Sponsors (13)
Introduced February 25, 2025 by Jennifer Kiggans · Last progress February 25, 2025
The bill would expand and formalize federal support for K–12 world-language and dual‑language education—benefiting many students, educators, and the future workforce—while relying on competitive grants, modest funding, and limited implementation guidance that risks uneven access, local costs, and strained teacher capacity.
K–12 students nationwide gain increased access to world language and dual-language programs, expanding opportunities to develop language proficiency and global competitiveness.
Teachers and paraprofessionals receive funded professional development, certification pathways, and support for teacher pipelines, improving educator skills and long-term program sustainability.
Expanding language education helps address employer-reported language-skill gaps, strengthening workforce readiness and benefits for businesses and future job seekers.
Low-income, rural, and small districts are likely to be left behind because competitive grants and limited initial resources favor districts with grant-writing capacity, producing uneven access for many students.
The bill sets goals, definitions, and requirements without robust, guaranteed funding or implementation timelines, risking unfunded mandates and little immediate impact for districts and community programs.
Rapid expansion risks worsening teacher shortages and uneven program quality: schools may struggle to staff bilingual programs, particularly in small or rural districts, making requirements infeasible for some students.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Creates a competitive DOE grant program to fund K–12 world language and dual‑language programs, authorizing $15M/year beginning FY2026.
Creates a federal competitive grant program at the Department of Education to help local school districts start, expand, and improve K–12 world language and dual-language programs. Grants are for three years (renewable at the Secretary’s discretion), require set selection criteria and priorities (including partnerships with community heritage schools and teacher pipeline efforts), and must reserve at least 20% of award funds for paraprofessional certification and professional development. The bill authorizes $15 million per year beginning in FY2026 and requires LEAs to report implementation and enrollment/educator data within 18 months.